Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!
Registered Dietitian Day has been celebrated every March (National Nutrition Month) since 2008, but this is the first year that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has celebrated and sponsored Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day.
In honor of this special day, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to detail the differences between a registered dietitian, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and a nutritionist.
Registered Dietitian: RDs are food and nutrition experts who have met many academic and professional requirements. They have all earned bachelor's degrees (and around half of all RDs have advanced degrees too!), that include coursework in food and nutrition sciences, foodservice management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry. Once obtaining a bachelor's degree, RDs must complete an accredited, supervised practice program at health-care facilities, community agencies, and foodservice corporations. Finally, RDs must pass a national exam and complete continuing education regularly.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics began offering the RDN credential to existing RDs in 2012-2013. RDNs have completed the same exact schooling, training, and examinations as RDs. According to the Academy, the RDN credential will "further enhance the RD brand and more accurately reflect to consumers who registered dietitians are and what they do." The addition of the word "nutritionist" is supposed to communicate a broader concept of wellness (including prevention of health conditions beyond medical nutrition therapy) as well as treatment of conditions. The RDN credential is not required as of yet, and there is no additional cost for using it.
Nutritionist: The term "nutritionist" can mean something different anywhere you go. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation "nutritionist," but in other states, virtually anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of education or training. It really all boils down to the fact that every registered dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a registered dietitian!
For more information about National Nutrition Month, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, and the differences between RDs and nutritionists, check out www.eatright.org.
- AP
In honor of this special day, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to detail the differences between a registered dietitian, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and a nutritionist.
Registered Dietitian: RDs are food and nutrition experts who have met many academic and professional requirements. They have all earned bachelor's degrees (and around half of all RDs have advanced degrees too!), that include coursework in food and nutrition sciences, foodservice management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry. Once obtaining a bachelor's degree, RDs must complete an accredited, supervised practice program at health-care facilities, community agencies, and foodservice corporations. Finally, RDs must pass a national exam and complete continuing education regularly.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics began offering the RDN credential to existing RDs in 2012-2013. RDNs have completed the same exact schooling, training, and examinations as RDs. According to the Academy, the RDN credential will "further enhance the RD brand and more accurately reflect to consumers who registered dietitians are and what they do." The addition of the word "nutritionist" is supposed to communicate a broader concept of wellness (including prevention of health conditions beyond medical nutrition therapy) as well as treatment of conditions. The RDN credential is not required as of yet, and there is no additional cost for using it.
Nutritionist: The term "nutritionist" can mean something different anywhere you go. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation "nutritionist," but in other states, virtually anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of education or training. It really all boils down to the fact that every registered dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a registered dietitian!
For more information about National Nutrition Month, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, and the differences between RDs and nutritionists, check out www.eatright.org.
- AP
Comments
Post a Comment